Hoop skirt and bum roll!

 I'm finally starting to get  a good collection of my costume's pieces going.  I just finished my hoop skirt and the bum roll to go over top.

 My hoop skirt =)

 I love love LOVE my dress form.  It makes picture taking a lot more easier, that's for sure.  And now I can make custom pieces that I couldn't even fathom drafting from measurements before.  Drafting is so pain-stakingly time consuming.

 The back, with the bum roll attached.  Again, I used heavy duty duct ties instead of expensive boning.  The support is a little flimsy, but considering I made these two items using only the supplies I had in my sewing room already, I'd say it turned out better than I could have expected.

 Overall, this was a pretty cheap project.  I used 45" muslin to make the skirt, which would have cost less than $10 if I had to buy it.  I used twill tape for the ties on the skirt and the bum roll, about $4 total.  I used the stuffing from an old, badly flattened bed pillow, and then cut up a work shirt for the bum roll since we're switching uniforms.

Overall, I'm really happy with the result.  =)  All I need is to make a shift now and I should be done with all the underthings.

Back in the Sewing Swing of things

I'm back!! =)

I haven't been posting much since I reeeeeally haven't been working as diligently on my Ren Fest costume as I should be... =(  But, since it is now May, and I only have until August to get this project finished, I've had to step it up.  Here's what I've been working on for the last week or so:

 My corset is finished!! 

 Detail of the boning channels

 I used duct ties (basically insanely huge zip ties) in place of corset boning, which gets pretty expensive.  It looks pretty much exactly the same as real boning

 The eyelets for the corset strings were all sewn by hand.  I did some research, and this is more authentic than using metal eyelets, and they'll also be more resistant to the stress of a tight fit, since no fabric fibers were torn to make them.  I used an awl to stretch the holes

 What the inside lining looks like...every seam is bound and finished, by machine then a hand slip-stitch.  Very time consuming.  Also part of the reason why I put this project down in November and didn't pick it up again until a couple weeks ago....

 Eyelet detail

Inside channel detail

Corset Progress

 Progress has been slow...the last couple of weeks have been hectic and I feel like I don't have much time to myself except late at night :(   BUT, I did get the whole thing boned and secured, plus got the bottom and raw inside seams lined.  I also got one side's eyelets done =)




 Front View

 Detail look at the bottom lining

 Inside view

 Detail of the seam finishing

My eyelets

Corsetry...aka changing directions, AGAIN..

I started sewing again!!!  I'm working on a practice corset, since I've never made one before.  It's not looking too shabby for a couple days' work so far...







A detailed look at the channels that the boning gets forced through...

All sewn together and awaiting a lining and some structure =)

My progress on the dress up I made up to last night...I still need to do the zip on the side and hem the skirt and lining, but I pinned it on to give an idea of what it'll look like when it's finished =)

knit dress progress

What I've been working on so far tonight...the lining is in the top soooo now I just need to assemble the skirt and throw that on too....who knows, maybe I can kick this out by the end of the night! =)

Changed directions...started on coif instead

I guess this would be a good time to tell you that most of the things I'll be constructing for my Ren-Fest costume are from Margo's Patterns, specifically from her Tudor Lady pattern suite.  She is not a commercial pattern maker, but her creations are extensively researched and about as historically accurate as you can get, realistically.  She gives you almost 200 pages with her patterns on not only how to sew the garments, but also fabric and trim advice, how to wear things, history of the garments, and her reasoning behind her methods.  The total cost of this pattern ended up a little over $50, but it's worth every penny.  You also get access to a blog and message board, and she has a Facebook page....lots of support if you run into trouble!  I've made a lot of stuff from commercial patterns, and that kind of help and inspiration just aren't there.

Anyway, instead of jumping right into doing a mock-up of the smock like I originally planned, I decided to aim for something a little simpler on my first try with Margo's directions-- the Tudor Coif. I just made a copy of the pattern pieces for this project (after cutting out every piece and putting them all in their own envelopes to stay organized) and I'm about half-way finished.  This is what it's eventually going to look like, and what I have done so far:

I've already kind of put this project off for a minute until I finish a project that I was working on while I was collecting supplies and waiting for the pattern to arrive.  It's a knit dress, which I have no idea WHY I'm making it since I don't know when I'll ever wear it, as all I ever wear is a work uniform, sweats, or casual stuff for school.  But I love dresses, and I've been wanting to use this fabric for a while now =)  Soooo....in an effort to finish what I've started, I want to finish this before getting into the Renaissance thing..


    The pattern                             My fabric

I have the bodice front and back done, but I still have to do the lining and sew everything together.  It'll be a few days, since the weekend is coming up and I usually work a lot Friday through Sunday.  But hopefully it'll be done by next weekend, then I can finish my coif and post pictures, then start on the big stuff =)